Ruby Jane (Westerfield, Sawyer) Stephens' Obituary
Ruby Jane (Westerfield, Sawyer) Stephens – also known as “Aunt Janie”, 78, passed away on September 12th, 2024.
She was born on May 4, 1946, to Betty (Tully) Henderson and Richard Westerfield in Franklin, Indiana. She had an established career at Indiana Bell, Eli Lilly, a home maker and later retired from many years at IBM.
She had a very spiritual soul and truly enjoyed her time spent at Collierville Christian Church. She had a love for animals – from her childhood dog Queenie to her first adult dog Jill to the three Boston Terriers that became her best friends later in life (Anna I, II and III).
She had the fortune of finding love twice in her life - from the love of her life Harrison Sawyer to her marriage later in life to Charles Stephens III.
While she never had any children of her own, she raised and treated others as if they were her own. From her stepchildren Mary Cooper, Scott Sawyer, Debbie (Stephens) Ledet, Jeni Stephens and Spencer Stephens to her nieces and nephews Damion Westerfield, Paula (Weant) Ramey, Jeff Ramey, John Weant, and Daylen Westerfield.
She had a strong friendship with former pastor Ron Buck and his wife Cathy and enjoyed "babysitting" their dog Chloe whenever she had the opportunity to do so. She will be so honored to have him pastor the service for us.
She was preceded in death by some people that were very special to her: her best friend mother Betty Henderson, other best friends Lelaine Cleaves and Marian Jernigan, older brother Harold Westerfield, younger sister Alice Collins, and stepchildren Jeni and Spencer Stephens.
She had a positive impact on so many people that crossed her path, but she always believed that she’d be in a much better place with God and with other loved ones after life. She was ready to move on and spend time with them and went peacefully. Please do not grieve for her because that’s not what she’d want. We should celebrate that she is where she wanted to be at this stage in her life. She said many times, “whoever called old age the Golden Years, had no idea what they were talking about.”
She was never a fan of flowers because they die so quickly, so in lieu of flowers, she would want you to please make donations to the Collierville Christian Church and/or Memphis chapter of the Humane Society.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, September 18 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 2:00 all in the Fireside Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home. Entombment to follow at Memorial Park Mausoleum
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